A second Listening Session for the State Plan for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders takes place this Friday from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Kent County YMCA. A total of six sessions will be held throughout the state to gather input.

The purpose of the sessions is to give caregivers, healthcare providers, family members and anyone impacted by the disease an opportunity to tell their story and provide vital input to a comprehensive State Plan for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders to address this important public health issue. The sessions are free and open to the public.

Co-chaired by Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts and Catherine Taylor, Director of the Division of Elderly Affairs, a working group has been established to inform and create a State Plan for Alzheimer's disease. The group is open to participation by the public. A full group meeting is held every other month, while six sub-groups have been formed to tackle the many aspects and challenges of this disease. Membership for these sub-groups also is open to anyone who is interested in participating.

The Long Term Care Coordinating Council has been designated as the "home" for the work on a state plan by a joint resolution, recently passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Lincoln Chafee on May 25.

For more information, email info@ltgov.state.ri.us (write Alzheimer's in the subject line) or visit www.ltgov.state.ri.us/alz. In addition to Friday’s session, sessions will be held Dec. 10 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Providence Public Library, 150 Empire St.; Dec. 12 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the Woonsocket Public Library, Dec. 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Bayside YMCA, 70 West St., Barrington and Dec. 18 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Peace Dale Library, 1057 Kingstown Road, South Kingstown.